Former Economy Minister talks on Anaklia Port and Georgia’s relationship with Russia
By Nika Gamtsemlidze
Tuesday, October 23
Former Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, Giorgi Kobulia talks about the future of his political career, Anaklia Port Project and Georgia’s relationship with Russia.
Kobulia says he is thinking of coming to politics but has not been decided yet. He said it was important to assemble a team that would share his principles. The former minister says he does not rule out a coalition with either the United National Movement or the Georgian Dream, but he is not planning to join any party and will only continue his political career by assembling a new team. He cites economic relations with Russia as one of the main demands for forming a coalition.
"I believe that we should have good economic relations with Russia in terms of foreign policy and I will not hide it. I will not, in any case, form a coalition with a force that does not agree with this principle," Kobulia said on the Main Channel.
Earlier, Kobulia spoke about the importance of the Russian market and Russian tourists to Georgia. He also pointed out that the comparison between the Russian and American markets is also incorrect, as there is great competition in America.
"Selling wine in America and Russia is very different. As an economist I can tell you, there is great competition in America and it will take years before we can sell it. Do you want our people to starve for years to come?” stressed Kobulia.
"Why can't Georgians export crops to Russia, they know more about this market," said Kobulia, explaining that Russian tourists and the Russian market are needed because Georgia needs infrastructure and capital to enter the European market.
He said that market diversification needs precise management and the wrong attitude is that Georgia does not need Russian tourists.
Kobulia says the ruling Georgian Dream has nothing to do with the Anaklia port problems. He explained that before Khazaradze's political troubles, the project had flaws. He cites the lack of economic profitability of the project as an argument.
He says the main mistake of the Anaklia Port Project was the lack of analytics. He said while in government, he doubted why the project could not raise the needed money, so he asked the consortium and the Partnership Fund for a reasoned analysis of why the port was profitable.
Kobulia says he could not get answers within three months and personally created a team that was looking for documents. The minister said that the port competitiveness justification was not achieved. According to him, this raised doubts that the economic part of the project had problems.
As a Minister of Economy, Kobulia was in the office for only nine months. He was succeeded by Natia Turnava, who was appointed as Deputy Economy Minister on September 2018.
